driven by the forces of circumstance

The Visitor and the Victim

CHAPTER 2

    Mr. and Mrs. Williams turned out to be one of the wealthiest couple in their estate in Ikeja, Lagos. This couple is blessed with two children, Anderson and Charity. Anderson is the about the same age group as Joshua and Charity as Betty. Betty, Charity, Desmond and Anita all attend the same school, this was similar to Anderson and Joshua but they have just graduated from ss3 in and preparation to enter the University.
    Today is quite different from other days, this is because Mrs. Williams decided to take a day off, being a full time journalist, so that she can have to arrange some files and file some reports without being disturbed. Although she had taken a day off, it wasn’t going seem so because the only difference was that she was working from home and not the office. Mr. Williams on the other hand, decided to take a day off from work being a business man who is over taken by one business contract or the other, appointments and distributions. He was free today, and decided to take some rest. Both are happy to be able to spend the day together as this hasn’t happened in a while. Anderson and Charity are also glad to have their parents around for the day, even though they might still get to be busy with work, but them being at home made all the difference.
    ‘It’s just a day off work but it means a lot to us' Charity said to Anderson with all joy. ‘Exactly!’ Anderson replied with a chuckle. ‘I have a some requests to make to dad, I hope he hears me out 8today' Anderson tells Charity. ‘Well,  I advise you take it easy with this your ‘requests’ unless you’re prepared to be snobbed today' Charity advised. ‘Yeah you’re right, but it’s not like dad doesn’t have the money' Anderson explained. ‘Oh it’s even about money! You know it’s one thing to have, and it’s another to have the heart of giving, you know daddy can be funny especially when it comes to to money, I still advise you take it easy there' Charity replied. ‘You have a point there, but you haven’t even heard the request and you’re just there saying take it easy' Anderson responded’ Okay oh sorry sir, I wish you all the best' Charity replied as they both burst out in laughter.
  
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‘Dad please I have a request to make to you, was wondering if you had some time to spare to listen?’ Anderson asked his dad as he walked into his room. This drew the attention of the his mum having heard her son’s voice from the library where she was arranging her files and filing her reports for work. She lifted up her head and turned in the direction of the room where Anderson stood, she made some expressions with her face to which he understood, as if to say ‘You had better made a reasonable request this time son’ He responded back with a straight face as if to say ‘Don’t expect too much mum, it’s still the same’ Mrs. Williams also got the message in return, chuckled sarcastically as if to mean ‘You’re on your own then' immediately, she turned back to face her work. Anderson didn’t fail to respond by quickly bending his head to the right to mean ‘ Of course I know I am, I came here alone'. ‘ Of course I can give some time to my son, just as long as he says something worth listening to' Mr. Williams responded with a smile. ‘Well dad, I don’t really know about the worth listening to part, I just know I have a request to make, that’s all.’ Anderson informed his dad. ‘Okay then, shoot, I’d listen and give you a response’ Mr. Williams replied. ‘Dad please I need some money for a music concert coming up next week Wednesday, that’s like a week from now, I need some money to buy the tickets, that’s the one with the least price which is 5,ooo Naira. I would also love to take some pictures and buy some stuff, so you could please give me about seven to ten thousand.’ Anderson said not knowing what response to expect but had a feeling it wasn’t going to be positive. ‘In all of this, you didn’t mention anything about your upcoming exams it’s music right?! You know it’s not the first time you’re making a request like this, but let me let you know that my answer still remains the same, and just in case you have forgotten what my answer was, I’d remind you. It was and is still NO! Focus on getting and securing your admission into the University, acquire a first degree with a good result, then I’d support you and your music to any length. For now, face your studies. I’m i understood?’ No reply from Anderson. ‘Anderson Williams, I’m I understood?’ ‘Yes dad’ he muttered under his breath. ‘So hopefully son, your dad has spared you some of his time, gave you listening ears and as well, gave you a response, so I guess I stood by my words. Anything else?’ Mr. Williams asked his son who had gotten both angry and sad at the same time. ‘No’ Anderson replied with some sort of malice, turning away to walk out of the room, his eyes hits his mother’s and again she communicates with her funny expressions, as if to say, ‘I told you boy, you’re really on your own' Not bothering to reply he walked out of the room, but at this point, feeling more more angry with his mum, it was like she had prophesied  ill luck for him with his request to his dad with her funny expressions. Charity had heard her father’s response to her brother and so she knew better than to go meet Anderson at that point in time. She decided to take a while in her room for him to calm down, then should would go say one or two things to him.